Polyhedral Toy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a polyhedral toy from which fun with a sense of reality is experienced, and that prevents injury because of its lightweight. A polyhedral toy ( 1 ) is an elasticity-having polyhedron, on at least one face of which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion ( 3 ), and in at least another one face of which an interlock hole ( 7 ) is formed, and the interlock protrusion ( 3 ) and interlock hole ( 7 ) has shapes allowing reciprocally interlocking connection. Furthermore the interlock protrusion ( 3 ) has a constricted portion ( 5 ) reduced in diameter, between a protrusion top portion and a base face ( 2 ), and the interlock hole ( 7 ) has a shape in which an opening portion ( 8 ) is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock hole ( 7 ). Inserting the interlock protrusion ( 3 ) into the interlock hole ( 7 ) brings a state in which the opening portion ( 8 ) engages with the constricted portion ( 5 ) to prevent the interlock protrusion ( 3 ) form disengaging from the interlock hole ( 7 ). Additionally, the elastic-material constitution prevents play participants from being injured, and enables building of structures slightly smaller, and to the contrary greater, than those in full-size, making it possible to enjoy more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a polyhedral toy, on at least one faceof which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion, and in atleast another face of which an interlock hole is formed; moreparticularly, the invention relates to a polyhedral toy system in whicha plurality of polyhedral toys are connected with each other by makinginterlocked coupling between their interlock protrusions and interlockholes to build a desired structure shaped in three dimensions, as withbuilding blocks.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as one example of such polyhedral toys, a set ofassembly blocks including first, second and third block elements is wellknown (Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-277262).

The first and second block elements have equal-sized cubic shapes, withan equal-sized cylindrical protrusion being formed on each of threefaces of the first block element, a flat surface being formed on twoother, contiguous faces, and a angular hole corresponding to theprotrusion being formed on the remaining face.

Then a cylindrical protrusion of the same dimensions as those of thefirst block element is formed on one face of the second block element,with a round hole corresponding to the protrusion being formed on two ofits other faces, a flat surface being formed on two other, contiguousfaces, and an angular hole corresponding to the protrusion being formedon the remaining face.

Furthermore, the third block element has a hexahedral shape, andconsecutive two faces of the third block element are formed to be squaresame in size as that of the first and second block elements, acylindrical protrusion same in size as that of above describedprotrusion is formed on one of the two faces, and on another, arectangular hole corresponding to the protrusion is formed, andadditionally two faces adjacent to the two consecutive faces are formedparallel to each other, and the last two faces are formed perpendicularto the two square faces.

As just described, in such the set of assembly blocks, all theprotrusions of these block elements are same in size and the rectangularhole of each block element and the round hole of the second blockelement correspond to the protrusions, so that the protrusion of eachblock element and the round or rectangular hole of another block elementinterlocks to connect the block elements freely with each other, andthus connecting three types of block elements with each other in thismanner makes it possible to freely build a desired planar orthree-dimensional shape.

It should be understood that keeping good connecting relationshipbetween the block elements requires preventing the protrusion and holewear caused by the repeated engagement and disengagement. For thisreason, hard plastic is employed traditionally as the material for theblock elements.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-277262.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem Invention is to Solve

The polyhedral toys described above are conventionally provided toinfants or very young children, and are often assembled into aminiaturized model of a ship, car, building, or other structures, mostof which are of just the size that children can hold in their hands toplay with, such that the size of the individual pieces is extremelysmall.

For children as play participants, however, a structure assembled usingsuch polyhedral toys does not necessarily have to be just as large ascan be held in the hands to play with; rather, a structure slightlysmaller or, conversely, larger, than actual size would further stir theimagination with a sense of reality to make the play with such toys moreinteresting.

For example, if the polyhedral toys can be used to build a house largeenough for play participants to enter into and a ship and car in whichthey get, the play participants experience the fun of using toys tobuild an assembled structure and of going into and out the assembledhouse and getting into the ship and car, with a sense of reality.

In this case, it is necessary to make the assembling work seem lessdifficult for infants who are likely to get bored to prevent them fromlosing interest in the assembling play. This can be achieved byincreasing the size of a polyhedral toy unit to a certain extent, but ifhard plastic is employed in the traditional way to increase the size,the single piece gains in weight to cause unwieldiness and to raise aproblem that the infants are prone to be injured by the corners of thetoy.

As a means for solving these problems, making the polyhedral toy of anelastic material is conceivable, though in the conventional interlockedcoupling mechanism between the protrusion and hole, the protrusion andhole elastically deform to destabilize the coupling state between them,so that they are likely to be decoupled and thus the problem thatmaintaining connected state of the assembled structure is prevented iscaused adversely.

Furthermore, from a perspective of usability, a decrease in weight ofthe polyhedral toy unit is required.

The present invention is made in view of the fact explained in theforegoing and for the purpose of providing a polyhedral toy from which afun with a sense of reality is experienced, and furthermore thatprevents injury, because of lightweight.

Means for Resolving the Problems

The present invention for resolving the problems involves an polyhedraltoy that is an elastic polyhedron, on at least one face of which anextension is provided as an interlock protrusion, and in at leastanother one face of which an interlock hole is formed, the polyhedraltoy characterized in that the interlock protrusion and interlock holehas geometries enabling reciprocally interlocking connection, theinterlock protrusion has a constricted portion reduced in diameter,between a protrusion top portion and a base face, in addition, and anopening portion of the interlock hole is reduced in diameter, comparedwith the inside of the interlock hole.

With the polyhedral toy, having above configuration, of the presentinvention, the interlock protrusion of a first polyhedral toy andinterlock hole of a second polyhedral toy are interlocked to connect theboth polyhedral toys, and in such a manner, interlocking connections ofa plurality of polyhedral toys enables are made to build a structurehaving a desired three-dimensional shape.

When the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole, ainterlock protrusion top portion whose diameter is larger than that ofthe constricted portion elastically constricts to deform, and meanwhilethe opening portion of the interlock hole elastically deforms (includingenlarged deformation), to enable the insertion of the interlockprotrusion into the interlock hole, so that the interlock protrusion andinterlock hole are interlocked.

Once the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole inthis way, the larger-diameter portion of the interlock protrusion andthe opening portion of the interlock hole return from the deformationstate to their original state to end in a state in which the openingportion of the interlock hole engages with the constricted portion ofthe interlock protrusion. And, such an engagement between the openingportion and constricted portion prevents the interlock protrusion fromdisengaging from the interlock hole to maintain the connection statebetween the assembled polyhedral toys, so that the three-dimensionalshape of the built structure is favorably kept, even if the polyhedraltoys are made of an elastic material.

In addition, because the polyhedral toys are made of the elasticmaterial, even if they are increased in size, play participants are ableto build a structure slightly smaller, and to the contrary larger, thanthat in hull-size without being hurt, so that the play participants canenjoy more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.

It should be understood that the polyhedrons may be made of elasticporous material as typified by a sponge. In such a configuration, evenif the polyhedral toys are made larger, an increase in their weight isprevented to allow infants to handle the toys without difficulties.

Additionally, the surface of the interlock protrusion or interlock holemay be covered with a hard film. In this case, the hard film preventsthe interlock protrusion or interlock hole in the interlock relationshipfrom elastically deforming to make the interlock protrusion less likelyto disengage from the interlock hole, so that the three-dimensionalshape of the built structure is maintained favorably.

Also feasible is a configuration in which a constricted portion-sideouter peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the openingportion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole at leastpartly engages with each other, when the interlock protrusion andinterlock hole interlock to be coupled, and the constricted portion-sideouter peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is formed so that aspan of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface becomeslonger continuously from the constricted portion side toward the topportion side, while the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface ofthe interlock hole is formed so that a diameter of the openingportion-side inner peripheral surface becomes longer continuously fromthe opening portion side toward the bottom portion side, and so that thediameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outerperipheral surface of the interlock protrusion is smaller than the spanof the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface.

In such a configuration, when the interlock protrusion is inserted intothe interlock hole, the constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface abuts on the opening portion, and the interlock protrusion ispulled into the interlock hole by the elastic force of the interlockprotrusion and interlock hole, so that more simple and more secureinterlocking connection between the polyhedral toys can be made, becausethe span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of theinterlock protrusion is smaller than the diameter of the openingportion. Additionally, after the interlock protrusion is inserted intothe interlock hole, the constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface of the interlock protrusion is engaged with the openingportion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole, and a forceof pulling the interlock protrusion into the interlock hole is generatedby the elastic force of the interlock protrusion and interlock hole, sothat even if a lot of polyhedral toys are assembled, they are preventedfrom breaking.

Moreover, the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion may beformed at a joint between the interlock protrusion and the base face.This allows the engagement between the constricted portion of theinterlock protrusion and the opening portion of the interlock hole, withthe interlock protrusion completely fitted into the interlock hole, andwith the interlock protrusion-having surface abutting on the interlockhole-having surface, to make the interlocked connection state stable andnon-wobbly.

Effects of the Invention

As described above, according to the polyhedral toys of the presentinvention, play participants are able to build a structure slightlysmaller, and to the contrary larger, than that in full-size withoutbeing hurt, even if the polyhedral toys are made larger to a certainextent, because they are composed of an elastic material, so that theplay participants enjoy more interesting play with a sense of moreconvincing reality.

Furthermore, forming the constricted portion between the interlockprotrusion top portion and base face, and shaping the opening portion ofthe interlock hole so as to be reduced in diameter, compared with theinside of the interlock hole, bring a state in which the opening portionof the interlock hole engages with the constricted portion of theinterlock protrusion, when the interlock protrusion is inserted into theinterlock hole. As a result, the interlock protrusion is unlikely todisengage from the interlock hole and thus the connection relationshipbetween the assembled polyhedral toys is maintained favorably to keepthe three-dimensional shape of the built structure well.

Additionally, if the polyhedral toys are composed of elastic porousmaterial, the weigh of the toys is controlled to allow the infants tohandle them without difficulties, and if the surface of the interlockprotrusion or interlock hole is covered with the hard film, theinterlock protrusion is unlikely to disengage from the interlock hole,so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is kept morefavorably.

Moreover, a configuration in which the constricted portion-side outerperipheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the openingportion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole at leastpartly engage with each other, the constricted portion-side outerperipheral surface of the interlock protrusion is formed so that thespan becomes larger toward the top portion, and on the other hand theopening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole isformed so that the diameter becomes larger toward the bottom portion andso that the diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-sideouter peripheral surface becomes smaller than the span of theconstricted portion-side outer peripheral surface allows the interlockprotrusion is pulled into the interlock hole by the engagingrelationship between the constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion of theinterlock hole to engage and connect the polyhedral toys with each othermore simply and more securely, when they are fitted to and connectedwith each other, and such a configuration prevents the interlockprotrusion from being disengaged from the interlock hole by the pullingforce caused by the engaging relationship between the constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion andthe opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock holeto keep the assembled polyhedral toys from breaking down even if a lotof toys are assembled, after the interlock protrusion is fitted into theinterlock hole.

In addition, if the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion isformed at the joint of the interlock protrusion, the engagement betweenthe constricted portion of the interlock protrusion and the openingportion of the interlock hole enables the interlock protrusion to fit tothe interlock hole completely, resulting in a state in which the surfaceprovided with the interlock protrusion abuts on that provided with theinterlock hole, so that the connecting relationship between thepolyhedral toys is stabilized without wobbly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in A-A direction in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an interlocked couplingrelationship between the interlock protrusion and interlock hole.

FIG. 4 is a side view in B direction in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrated a state in which a plurality ofpolyhedral toys involving this embodiment is connected.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involvingsecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in C-C direction in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in D-D direction in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving afourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in E-E direction in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving afifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view in F-F direction in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving asixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view in G-G direction in FIG. 14. Legend

1: Polyhedral toy; 2: Surface (base face); 3: Interlock protrusion; 4:Protrusion top portion; 5: Constricted portion; 6: Constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface; 7: Interlock hole; 8: Openingportion; 9: Opening portion-side inner peripheral surface.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A specific embodiment of the present invention is explained hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview illustrating a polyhedral toy involving one embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in A-A directionin FIG. 1. Additionally, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating astate in which an interlock protrusion and an interlock hole interlockand couple with each other, FIG. 4 is a side view in B direction in FIG.1 and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which severalpolyhedral toys involving this embodiment are connected.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a polyhedral toy 1 of thisembodiment is made of, for example, elastic polyurethane sponge, and isshaped into a cube. On the three consecutive faces of the polyhedral toy1, four spherical interlock protrusions 3 are provided extendingly, andon another three consecutive faces, four interlock holes 7 are formed.

The interlock protrusions 3 are spherically formed, and a constrictedportion 5 reduced in diameter is formed at a joint between theprotrusion top 4 and the surface of the cube (base face). The interlockholes 7 are formed into a concaved sphere so that the interlockprotrusions 3 fit into the interlock holes 7 perfectly, and have shapesin which an opening portion 8 is reduced in diameter, compared with theinside of the interlock holes 7.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in a situation in which theinterlock protrusions 3 are fitted into the interlock holes 7, theconstricted portion 5 of the interlock protrusions 3 is engaged with theopening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7, and a constricted portion5-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 isengaged with the opening portion 8-side inner peripheral surface 9 ofthe interlock holes 7. The constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 is formed so that the span ofthe constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface becomes gratercontinuously (smoothly) from the constricted position 5 toward aprotrusion top 4, while the opening portion-side inner peripheralsurface 9 of the interlock holes 7 is formed so that a diameter of theopening portion-side inner peripheral surface becomes gratercontinuously (smoothly) from the opening portion 8 toward the bottomportion, and so that a diameter of a part engaged with the constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outerperipheral surface 6.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 4, on each cube face where theinterlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are provided, with two ofthem as one row, they are disposed in two rows, and are arranged so thatthe spacing between the centerlines of each row, and the spacing betweenthe rows are equidistant (2×a), and are arranged so that the distance tothe centerlines from the two edges on the adjacent-most sides is thissame distance (a).

Thus, in the polyhedral toy 1 of this embodiment, as configured above,the protrusions 3 of a first polyhedral toy 1 and the interlock holes 7of a second polyhedral toy 1 are interlocked to connect both of thepolyhedral toys 1, and likewise a plurality of polyhedral toys 1 areinterlocked and connected to build a structure having a desiredthree-dimensional shape.

And, if the polyhedral toy 1 is made larger to a certain extent, a houseinto which play participants can enter, and a ship and car into whichthey get can be built.

It is to be noted that FIG. 5 illustrates, as an example of connectingrelationship, a state in which three polyhedral toys 1 are connected,tough the number of the connected ones.

Meanwhile, when the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into theinterlock holes 7, a protrusion top portion whose diameter is largerthan that of the constricted protrusion 5 of the interlock protrusions 3elastically shrinks to deform, and opening portion 8 of the interlockholes 7 elastically deforms (including enlarged deformation), to enablethe insertion of the interlock protrusions 3 into the interlock holes 7,because the polyhedral toy 1 is made of urethane sponge havingelasticity, so that the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7are interlocked.

Once the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into the interlock holes 7in this manner, the larger-diameter portion of the interlock protrusions3 and opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 return from deformationstate to their former states, and the interlock protrusions 3 are fittedcompletely into the interlock holes 7, to end in a state in whichopening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 engages with the constrictedportion of the interlock protrusions 3 as well as the constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3engages with the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of theinterlock holes 7, with a surface having the interlock protrusions 3abutting on a surface having the interlock holes 7.

Thus, the engagements between the opening portion 8 and constrictedportion 5 and between the constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface preventthe interlock protrusions 3 from disengaging from the interlock holes 7,and ensure stabled interlocked coupling state without wobbly, tomaintain connection relationship between the assembled polyhedral toys1, so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is keptfavorably, even if the polyhedral toys 1 are made of elastic material,as this embodiment.

Furthermore, when the interlock protrusions 3 is inserted into theinterlock holes 7, and the constricted portion-side outer peripheralsurface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 abuts on the opening portion 8of the interlock holes 7, the interlock protrusions 3 are pulled intothe interlock holes 7 by the elastic force of the interlock protrusions3 and the interlock holes 7 to enable simple and secure interlockingconnection between the polyhedral toys 1, because the span of theconstricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 is smaller than thediameter of the opening portions 8 of the interlock holes 7.

Moreover, after the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into theinterlock holes 7, the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface6 of the interlock protrusions 3 and the opening portion-side innerperipheral surface 9 of the interlock holes 7 engage with each other togenerate a force of pulling the interlock protrusions 3 into theinterlock holes 7, so that the interlock protrusions 3 are preventedfrom disengaging from the interlock holes 7 more securely, and thus thedisadvantage that assembling a lot of polyhedral toys 1 results in theirbreak-up is eliminated.

Additionally, making the polyhedral toys 1 of elastic urethane spongeallows infants to handle them without difficulty, and prevents theinfants from being injured, because the polyhedral toys are light weigheven if made larger to a certain extent, so that a structure slightlysmaller, and to the contrary larger, than that in full-size, such as ahouse large enough for the play participants to enter and a ship and carinto which they are able to get can be build, and more interesting playwith a sense of more convincing reality.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been explained in theforegoing, specific modes by which the present invention can be adoptedare not in any way limited to the above example.

For example, in above example, the surface of the interlock protrusions3 or the interlock holes 7 may be covered with a hard film such asresin. In this way, the hard film prevents the interlock protrusions 3and interlock holes 7 in interlock relationship from deforming, so thatthe interlock protrusions 3 are less likely to disengage from theinterlock holes 7, and thus the three-dimensional shape of the builtstructure is maintained more favorably, compared with above example.

Additionally, in above example, urethane sponge is employed, but it isnot limited to the urethane sponge, for example, if having elasticity,not only sponge made up of other material but also rubber material suchas natural rubber and synthetic rubber may be used.

Furthermore, the basic shape of the polyhedral toys 1 is not limited toa sphere in above example. If polyhedral, the polyhedral toys 1 may bein any shapes including pyramid, and the face to which interlockprotrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are provided, the number andposition of them are not limited to above example.

Furthermore, the shapes of the interlock protrusions 3 and interlockholes 7 are not limited to the above example. If they are shaped to beable to interlock and couple with each other, the interlock protrusions3 have a constricted portion reduced in diameter between the protrusiontop and the base face, and the opening portion 8 of the interlock holes7 is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlockholes 7, the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 may be in anyshapes, so they can be shaped as illustrates in FIG. 6 through FIG. 13.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate interlock protrusions 3 a and interlockholes 7 a through which a cross section is oval. A constricted portion 5a is formed at a joint of the interlock protrusions 3 a, and an openingportion 8 a of the interlock holes 7 a is reduced in diameter.Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 a arefitted into the interlock holes 7 a, the constricted portion 5 a of theinterlock protrusions 3 a engages with the opening portion 8 a of theinterlock holes 7 a, and the constricted portion 5-side outer peripheralsurface 6 a the interlock protrusions 3 a engages with the openingportion 8 a-side inner peripheral surface 9 a of the interlock holes 7a. The constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a of theinterlock protrusions 3 a is formed so that a span of the constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a becomes larger from theconstricted portion 5 a toward the top portion, while the openingportion-side inner peripheral surface 9 a of the interlock holes 7 a isformed so that a diameter of the opening portion-side inner peripheralsurface 9 a becomes greater from the opening portion 8 a toward thebottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with theconstricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a of the interlockprotrusions 3 a is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-sideouter peripheral surface 6 a.

Moreover, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate interlock protrusions 3 b andinterlock holes 7 b, both of which are shaped to be conicallytrapezoidal. A constricted portion 5 b is formed at a joint of theinterlock protrusions 3 b, and the opening portion 8 b of the interlockholes 7 b is reduced in diameter. Furthermore, in a situation in whichthe interlock protrusions 3 b is fitted into the interlock holes 7 b,the constricted portion 5 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b engageswith the opening portion 8 b of the interlock holes 7 b, and an outerperipheral surface 6 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b engages with aninner peripheral surface 9 b of the interlock holes 7 b. The outerperipheral surface 6 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b is formed sothat the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 b becomes greater fromthe constricted portion 5 b toward the top portion, while the innerperipheral surface 9 b of the interlock holes 7 b is formed so that thediameter of the inner peripheral surface 9 b becomes greater from theopening portion 8 b toward the bottom portion, and so that the diameterof a part engaged with the outer peripheral surface 6 b of the interlockprotrusions 3 b is smaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface6 b.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate spherical interlock protrusions 3 c andholes 7 c. A constricted portion 5 c having a straight part is formed ata joint of the interlock protrusions 3 c, and the opening portion 8C ofthe interlock holes 7 has a cylindrical face, and is reduced indiameter, compared with the inside of the interlock holes 7.Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 c arefitted into the interlock holes 7 c, the constricted portion 5 c of theinterlock protrusions 3 c engages with the opening portion 8 c of theinterlock holes 7 c, and the constricted potions 5 c-side outerperipheral surface 6 c of the interlock protrusions 3 c engages with theopening portion 8 c-side inner peripheral surface 9 c of the interlockholes 7 c. The constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c ofthe interlock protrusions 3 c is formed so that the span of theconstricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c becomes greaterfrom the constricted portion 5 c toward the protrusion top, while theopening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 c of the interlock holes7 c is formed so that the diameter of the opening portion-side innerperipheral surface 9 c becomes greater from the opening portion 8 ctoward the bottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engagedwith the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c of theinterlock protrusions 3 c is smaller than the span of the constrictedportion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c.

Additionally, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrate conically trapezoidalinterlock protrusions 3 d and interlock holes 7 d. A circular andgroove-like constricted portion 5 d is formed at a joint of theinterlock protrusions 3 d, and an opening portion 8 d has a cylindricalsurface, and is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of theinterlock holes 7 d. Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlockprotrusions 3 d are fitted into the interlock holes 7 d, the constrictedportion 5 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d engages with the openingportion 8 d of the interlock holes 7 d, and an outer peripheral surface6 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d excluding that of the constrictedportion 5 d engages with an inner peripheral surface 9 d of theinterlock hole 7 d excluding that of the opening portion 8 d. The outerperipheral surface 6 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d is formed sothat the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 d becomes greater fromthe constricted portion 5 d toward the protrusion top portion, and theinner peripheral surface 9 d of the interlock holes 7 d is formed sothat the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 9 d becomes greaterfrom the opening portion 8 d toward the bottom portion, and so that thediameter of a part engaged with the outer peripheral surface 6 d of theinterlock protrusions 3 d is smaller than the span of the outerperipheral surface 6 d.

Moreover, in above examples although the four interlock protrusions 3 orfour interlock holes 7 are formed on each face, the number of theinterlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 is not limited to theseexamples. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a singlespherical interlock protrusion 3 may be formed on the center of theconsecutive three faces of a total of 6 faces, and a single sphericalinterlock hole 7 may be formed on the center of another three conductivefaces.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention is suitable for polyhedraltoys that are interlocked and connected with each other to build astructure slightly smaller, and to the contrary grater, than that infull-size.

1. A polyhedral toy, being a polyhedron having elasticity, and on atleast one face of which an extension is provided as an interlockprotrusion, and in at least another one face of which an interlock holeis formed, the polyhedral toy characterized in that: said interlockprotrusion and interlock hole have geometries enabling reciprocallyinterlocking connection; said interlock protrusion between theprotrusion fore-end portion and the toy base face has a constrictedportion reduced in diameter; and the mouth portion of said interlockhole is reduced in diameter relative to the inside of said hole.
 2. Apolyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, being a polyhedron characterizedin being configured with a porous material having elasticity.
 3. Apolyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that thesurface of said interlock protrusion or interlock hole is covered with ahard film.
 4. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, characterizedin: being configured so that when said interlock protrusion andinterlock hole are interlocked, at least a part of the outer peripheralsurface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion, andof the inner peripheral surface of said interlock hole along its mouthportion engage mutually; and being formed so that the span of the outerperipheral surface of said interlock protrusion along its constrictedportion becomes larger continuously from along the constricted portiontoward the fore-end portion thereof, and meanwhile being formed so thatthe diameter of the inner peripheral surface of said interlock holealong its mouth becomes larger continuously from along the mouth towardthe bottom portion thereof, and so that the diameter thereof where itengages with the outer peripheral surface of said interlock protrusionalong its constricted portion is smaller than the span of the outerperipheral surface along its constricted portion.
 5. A polyhedral toy asset forth in claim 1, characterized in that said constricted portion ofsaid interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlockprotrusion with the base face.
 6. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim2, characterized in that the surface of said interlock protrusion orinterlock hole is covered with a hard film.
 7. A polyhedral toy as setforth in claim 2, characterized in: being configured so that when saidinterlock protrusion and interlock hole are interlocked, at least a partof the outer peripheral surface of said interlock protrusion along itsconstricted portion, and of the inner peripheral surface of saidinterlock hole along its mouth portion engage mutually; and being formedso that the span of the outer peripheral surface of said interlockprotrusion along its constricted portion becomes larger continuouslyfrom along the constricted portion toward the fore-end portion thereof,and meanwhile being formed so that the diameter of the inner peripheralsurface of said interlock hole along its mouth becomes largercontinuously from along the mouth toward the bottom portion thereof, andso that the diameter thereof where it engages with the outer peripheralsurface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion issmaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface along itsconstricted portion.
 8. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 3,characterized in: being configured so that when said interlockprotrusion and interlock hole are interlocked, at least a part of theouter peripheral surface of said interlock protrusion along itsconstricted portion, and of the inner peripheral surface of saidinterlock hole along its mouth portion engage mutually; and being formedso that the span of the outer peripheral surface of said interlockprotrusion along its constricted portion becomes larger continuouslyfrom along the constricted portion toward the fore-end portion thereof,and meanwhile being formed so that the diameter of the inner peripheralsurface of said interlock hole along its mouth becomes largercontinuously from along the mouth toward the bottom portion thereof, andso that the diameter thereof where it engages with the outer peripheralsurface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion issmaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface along itsconstricted portion.
 9. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 2,characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlockprotrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion withthe base face.
 10. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 3,characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlockprotrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion withthe base face.
 11. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 4,characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlockprotrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion withthe base face.
 12. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 7,characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlockprotrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion withthe base face.
 13. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 8,characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlockprotrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion withthe base face.